afaqs! Pause - Kartik Mahadev, CMO - Content SBU, Zee

Kartik Mahadev, CMO - Content SBU, Zee

Kartik Mahadev is a dynamic entrepreneur and business leader who brings nearly two decades of business and marketing expertise to his role as CMO - Content SBU of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. Here’s a little sneak peek into his work day, leadership mantra, and advice to young professionals.

The best part of my job is

Realising the power of storytelling every day.

My leadership mantra

“Saccha leads to Achha”

1. Bring your authentic true self to work.

2. A collegial environment and an earnest work ethic will get your team further than individual brilliance.

3. Have faith in the process; positive outcomes will follow.

My career-defining moment

"Success is not final and failure is not fatal” plays itself out in life and at work.

I experienced this early in my career as a brand manager when I witnessed the lowest of lows for one of my portfolio of brands with a precipitous drop in volume. A product recipe change that went wrong affected the base brand volumes. The organisation rallied together, the brand recovered and saw its highest high since launch—all within the same calendar year.

My advice to young professionals

Stay ‘work in progress’.

How I recharge on the weekends

I enjoy the little things—time with family and friends, a bit of gardening,and some photography.

A recent ad campaign I liked

Recently, I came across a mattress brand encouraging people to replace the traditional 'Good Morning' with the question, 'Did you Sleepwell?' In a world that's constantly in motion and where rest is often overlooked, the thought of 'Theek Se Soye?' resonated with me.

Globally, the Christmas ad titled 'Joyride' from an e-commerce brand caught my eye, and I shared it within my groups. It's rare to see a film where human emotion, the cast, the music, and the message come across so seamlessly to create the desired impact.